Benjamin's 1st month

Benjamin,

You are 1 month old!! I can't believe it has already been a month. Time is flying by and you are growing so fast.

So much has happened this first month. When we brought you home from the hospital you felt so tiny and I couldn't imagine what you would be like any bigger.

You love your swing most of the time. I think the movement really relaxes you. But sometimes if you are not asleep you don't like to stay in there for very long.

 We had many helpers come to stay your first few weeks at home. Noni was the first to come and we loved having her around.

Gracie didn't really know what to think of you at first, but she quickly became very protective and makes sure to know where you are at all times. She is always sniffing you and checking you out. I think she even worries when you cry.

You love a good warm bath just like your mommy. The first time we gave you one was a little difficult in the bath tub. We have since figured out that the sink is much easier and is a perfect fit for you.

Your boppy pillow may be the most used thing we have. It is so great to feed you on and also perfect to prop you up for a good picture opportunity. You sure make some cute faces.

You are really starting to look around and make eye contact with us which is so fun. You love to grip my finger while you are eating which makes my heart melt.  And we get to see your adorable smile multiple times a day which can't help but make anyone that sees you smile right back.

 Your favorite place to be is outside, so you love going on walks. I really enjoy using this as an opportunity to get out of the house and now that it is starting to cool down we can go at any time of day. Did I tell you, you were born in one of the hottest and driest summers in Texas history. That is really saying something. I believe it was about 110 degrees the day you were born.

You are now 23 inches long and weigh 9 lbs 7 oz. You are in the 90 percentile in your height and 50 percentile in your weight. You are a very long and lean baby. We are doing our best to get your weight up. Keeping your belly full is the biggest challenge I have every day. If you are awake I feel like I am feeding you about every hour. When you sleep we get a few hour break.

At night you are basically sleeping in 2 to 3 hour increments, but we are seeing improvements and can get a 4 hour stretch every once in a while.

You are really active with your head. You don't have any problem lifting it but keeping it steady is not easy for you. You are working on it and getting stronger every day.

 You made your first road trip to Houston just before your 1 month birthday. You did great! Slept just about the whole way. We stayed with Noni and Pappa who loved having you there every second. Mummu and Uncle Mark came to visit along with lots of other family members and friends. Everyone was so happy to see you and just loved snuggling up with you. You are one very loved baby.

You have changed so much in this first month. You are really starting to fill out and your features are becoming very prominent. Everyone says you look just like your daddy. We have to agree. It will be fun to see if you get the same blond curls that he had as a little boy.

We can't wait to see all that you do in your 2nd month of life!!

Love you always and forever,

Mommy and Daddy

Benjamin's Birthday

Benjamin,

         The day you were born was truly a wonderful day.  We had the luxury of scheduling exactly when you were born due to you being breech. There was no waiting and wondering when you might come and how the labor would go.  So on August 2nd at 10 AM we headed to the hospital. I had all sorts of emotions running through me. Nervous, anxious, but mostly excited to meet the little man that had been inside of me for what felt like forever. I was so ready to meet my son whom I already loved so much.

 You had so many family members at the hospital anxiously waiting your arrival. We kept getting comments from the nurses and doctors about the crowd that you brought in to meet you. You are one very special little boy.

 At about 11:45 AM they brought me back into the operating room to prep me for your delivery and your daddy got all dressed up in his scrubs. Once your daddy was in the room it was only a few minutes before you came out. At 12:11 AM Dr. Garner got you out of my tummy and we got to hear the beautiful sound of your first cry.

 The nurses brought you over to this little table to get you all cleaned up and measured. You weighed 7lbs 13oz and were 20 inches long.  Once you were all swaddled up your daddy got to bring you over to me to get my first close up look at you.

This was such a happy moment. I can't remember anything better than this first glimpse of you.

As the doctors were finishing up with me they let me know that you did not have very much room inside of me. You see there was a little wall that was not supposed to be inside of me that was keeping you stuck high up on the left side of my tummy. We are so thankful that God had special plans for you and you were able to grow and develop just fine inside of me. You are definitely a little miracle baby. 

We could tell you didn't have much room in there because your nose was a little smashed and your head was misshaped. But you got all straightened out in a week or two.

Everything about you is precious. Your favorite place to sleep those first few nights was on my chest. Even though it wasn't the best sleep for me I loved having you there. It was the sweetest thing.

After three nights in the hospital we got to take you home. We were all so happy and excited to get home and begin our lives together.

Benjamin you are the sweetest baby boy and we love you more than words could express. You bring us so much joy and happiness. We could not be more thankful that our Lord has given you to us as our son.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy